OLD GUY NEEDS HELP

[Fullofquestions]

Help out an older guy with some simple questions:
Wife has fake hips and getting into and out of pick-up is hard. If I order a RAM 1500 4x4 Backcountry with standard 18" rims what will be the entering height? Lower than a limited with bigger rims, but air suspension?

Is it true that auto folding steps are lower than tubular steps?

Live in snowy cold Minnesota. No serious off roading except when I go hunting. Any recommendations?

There was a dealer (Texas?) that folks really liked...any idea of name or salesperson contact info?

Thanks for helping out!
Gary

 

[JohnnyMac]

Help out an older guy with some simple questions:
Wife has fake hips and getting into and out of pick-up is hard. If I order a RAM 1500 4x4 Backcountry with standard 18" rims what will be the entering height? Lower than a limited with bigger rims, but air suspension?

Is it true that auto folding steps are lower than tubular steps?

Live in snowy cold Minnesota. No serious off roading except when I go hunting. Any recommendations?

There was a dealer (Texas?) that folks really liked...any idea of name or salesperson contact info?

Thanks for helping out!
Gary

I believe that the air suspension has a setting that will set the truck down lower when "Parked" which will make it easier to get inside.

Auto folding steps are generally lower depending on manufacturer however not all are.

The problem with snowy, cold MN is that the air suspension is notoriously problematic in the cold weather (ask our Canadian friends) and the auto folding steps tend to get caked up with frozen solid ice/snow and won't pop out or retract correctly.

 

[BossHogg]

Is it true that auto folding steps are lower than tubular steps?

Yes, but I can only speak for the factory folding running boards. My 2013 1500 had factory fixed boards and they were mounted high (ground clearance) but did offer protection to the side of the vehicle from whatever the tires could find to throw up but were too high to be useful for cab entry/exit.

My 2022 came with the factory folding boards and they are very useful for getting in and out of the truck. I did not order the 4-corner air suspension. I guess the usefulness of the flooding running boards is dependent on the size of a person's step and the limitation of movement of your wife's hips.

 

[JayLeonard]

I installed Aries power steps in mine. Wife needed a new hip and she couldn't get into the truck. Aries has 2 steps. See pictures. (She has no problem now with the new hip)

 

[Fullofquestions]

Thanks! Anyone know contact at Marks Dodge?

 

[Farmer Fran]

Help out an older guy with some simple questions:
Wife has fake hips and getting into and out of pick-up is hard. If I order a RAM 1500 4x4 Backcountry with standard 18" rims what will be the entering height? Lower than a limited with bigger rims, but air suspension?

Is it true that auto folding steps are lower than tubular steps?

Live in snowy cold Minnesota. No serious off roading except when I go hunting. Any recommendations?

There was a dealer (Texas?) that folks really liked...any idea of name or salesperson contact info?

Thanks for helping out!
Gary

The Limited with auto steps and air suspension is super easy to get in and out. Put the truck in entry/exit mode and it lowers pretty far. You can even lower it with the FOB

 

[brian42]

OEM tires are the same overall height no matter which wheel size you get so that is a non-issue.

Factory power boards are much lower (than tubular bars) and the air suspension has an "Entry/Exit" mode to drop the truck lower to the ground than a coil spring truck.

My parents are not very mobile and the only way they can get in and out of the RAM is that way.

My dad has a Limited (air suspension, OEM factory power running boards, and 20" wheels) and I have a Big Horn (coil suspension, OEM tubular bars, and 18" wheels).

My mom cannot get into my truck and the only way my dad can is if I'm parked next to a sidewalk/curb to shorten the distance between the ground and my nerf bar.

If height is an issue I recommend going to a dealership and getting in and out of a few trucks with different options to see what you guys can do.

If you want the lowest entry height possible then you want air suspension and OEM power retracting running boards. From there you can get combinations up to the "highest" OEM entry height of tubular boards/steps, coil suspension, and Off-Road Group.

Hope that helps.

 

[Farmer Fran]

Ok, I put the Limited in entry/exit and opened the door to deploy the step. The step is about 6" off the ground. Very low. My truck has the 22" wheels that have 32" tires factory 285/45-22

 

[huntergreen]

Sounds like you need 4x4 by you. It’s also cold by you which in my opinion rules out air suspension due to known issues in the cold. I believe they make lowering kits for 4x4 trucks though not something I’m familiar with so you would have to do your own research.

Another thought, my 85 year old mother as well as my 92 y/o father in law could get in and out of my wife’s Grand Cherokee. Seemed the vehicle and seat height were perfect for slightly immobile folk. Leather seating also helped for “ sliding” in and out. Just throwing out another option for you in case a truck won’t work for your wife.

 

[Farmer Fran]

Pretty sure the 5th generation do not have the air suspension problems

 

[Fullofquestions]

Old Guy says THANK YOU! You are all awesome.